Rivers State High Court presided over by Justice Letam Nyordee on Wednesday granted bail to the detained leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Hon Chidi Lloyd.
Lloyd, who is standing trial on a six-count charge of attempted murder and wilful damage of public property, was granted bail with the sum of N10 million, with three sureties in like sum.
According to Nyordee, two of the sureties must be owners of landed property within Port Harcourt, the Rivers State capital and its environs. The judge further stated that one of the sureties must be a public servant of Grade Level 16, with an endorsement from his head of department.
Nyordee also ordered that while Lloyd will also deposit his international passport, each of three sureties must submit two recent passports and a sworn affidavit to show proof of ownership of the land.He further stated that all documents must be verified by the Chief Registrar of the High Court.
Delivering ruling on the bail application, the judge held that bail was not intended to set an accused person free, but to allow him prepare adequately for his trial and to ensure the presence of an accused at all times required by law as enshrined in Section 36 sub -section 5 of the Criminal Code.
He said after carefully examining the bail application, there was need to grant the accused bail as the charges levelled against him were bailable offences.
Nyordee, however, struck out grounds 3, 4, and 5 of the bail application, which bothered on the health condition of the accused, saying that the issue before the court was not on enforcement of fundamental human rights.
The court later adjourned to November 21, 2013 for hearing of an application filed by Counsels to Lloyd seeking to dismiss the information.
Reacting to the ruling, lead Counsel to Lloyd, Mr. Beluolisa Nwofor, SAN, hailed the court for granting the application.
Recall that Nyordee had Tuesday ordered that Lloyd be remanded in prison custody pending the ruling on his bail application on Wednesday.
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